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The Al Thani Collection
@al.thani.collection

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A RARE PORTRAIT OF A SASANIAN KING New Works on Display - In Focus: Sasanian royal cameo The Sasanian royal cameo in The Al Thani Collection is one of only four surviving examples that were carved in palace workshops [image 1]. The most famous of these is the cameo believed to represent Khavad I (ruled 498-531) or Chosroes II (ruled 590-628 AD) at the centre of the spectacular 'Cup of Solomon' in the Bibliothèque nationale de France (image 2). The cameo from The Al Thani Collection has been identified as Narseh, the youngest son of the Shapur I, who ruled from 293-302 AD. His investiture ceremony as king is recorded among the rock engravings at Taq e Bostan (image 3). The image on the cameo is remarkable, for he appears not like a Sasanian king wearing an elaborate crown and fluttering ribbons but rather as a Roman emperor, his hair tied back in a fillet. Only the luxuriant hair and beard, the heavyset features and earring distinguish him from his traditional bitter enemies. The classicizing iconography must date early in his reign, a time “of peace and friendship” with Rome as he recalled in the autobiographical inscription for his monument at Paikuli in Iraq. Image 1: Cameo of Narseh (ruled 293-302 AD), Iran, Sasanian, probably 293-298 AD; Agate, mounted in a neo-classical setting with gold, silver and diamonds © The Al Thani Collection. Photograph: Hughes Dubois. Image 2: 'The Cup of Solomon', Iran, Sasanian, 5th-6th centuries AD, Rock Crystal, garnet, glass, gold, D. 28.2 cm, Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, Médailles et Antiques © Joseph Smith, via Wikipedia Creative Commons Image 3: Investiture of Narseh, Iran, Taq e Bostan, Rock, Ca. 293 AD © Diego Deiso, via Wikimedia Creative Commons #thealthanicollection #althanicollectionfoundation #hoteldelamarine #exhibition #artexhibition #patrimoine #artinParis